I don’t own House and Santa says he’s unfamiliar with intellectual property rights so that’s a dead end too. I won’t give up.
Letting Go
Act Two
FADE IN
The tennis ball flew up in the sky. Reaching its apex it began to fall back down. House watched it carefully, prepared to catch it with his right hand as his left hand let go of another tennis ball. A third ball took its turn into the sky.
“Okay,” House detto quietly. “When I say go.” He caught the first ball. “Go!”
At the word, Chase let go of the ball he had in his hand, arching it up toward House to try to match the route of the other balls. But his aim was off and the ball sailed over House’s head da a good two feet. House stopped juggling and stared at Chase.
“Sorry,” Chase mumbled.
“It’s a tennis ball,” House said. “Not a rugby ball.”
“Sorry,” Chase repeated. “I told te I couldn’t do it.” He held up his hands and walked back to the conference tavolo in the diagnosis department office. Shaking his head he sat down and picked up the case file.
House turned towards the table. “Taub, your turn,” he said.
“Not a chance,” Taub said. “Pick someone else to humiliate.”
House turned to Foreman. House merely raised his eyebrows. Foreman looked up from the case file to meet House’s gaze.
“No,” Foreman detto pointedly. “Our patient is a 68-year-old woman who experienced chest pain radiating down her left arm. She passed out shortly thereafter. The ER at New York Mercy ruled out a cuore attack and only detected a fleeting arrhythmia, which regulated itself after a few hours. Her blood sugar was low but also returned to normal range.”
“Stop trying to distract me,” House said. He turned towards Masters and started to say something to her, but stopped and returned to Foreman. “New York Mercy?” House said. “Blast from the past, eh, Foreman?”
Foreman shook his head. “I had nothing to do with the ER,” Foreman said.
“Yeah, and after nuking that girl te had nothing to do with the rest of the hospital,” House said. He smiled.
Foreman shook his head. “I was right.”
“Didn’t matter,” House said. “At least not to Mercy’s boss. Too bad te weren’t sleeping with her.”
Foreman again shook his head in dismay. How did they let House get away with saying these things? “You pulled stunts like that for a long time before te were sleeping with your boss.”
House nodded. “You’re right. I guess Cuddy’s always been sweet on me. Lucky for all of us.” House returned then to Masters. “Your turn.” He detto to her.
Masters looked scared. “I can’t guarantee I can do it any better than Chase could.” She mumbled.
“Nonsense. Use that super brain of yours to figure out the trajectory o whatever and toss the ball. Shouldn’t be too hard for a genius like you,” House said. He retrieved the ball Chase had thrown over his head and handed it to Masters, who looked deep in thought as House positioned himself about four feet in front of Masters.
“What about our patient?” Taub asked, already knowing the answer, but wanting to sound like he was contributing.
“I can do both the juggling and the differential,” House said, putting two balls in his right hand and one in his left. “I am that good.” He tossed the balls into the air, carefully juggling them as he spoke. “Did the ER check for possible blood clots?”
Foreman, understanding where he was going with this answered, “They took it into consideration but never confirmed. The patient’s vitals returned to normal after a few IV bags.” He paused to watch House for a second. “If she did throw a clot it may not even be detectable now. With her slightly high blood pressure she’s a good candidate for some metabolic syndromes.”
“You think Cushing’s?” House said, still juggling.
“Possibly o maybe just hypertension,” Foreman shrugged. “It sure seems like it’s nothing serious…or at least nothing mysterious enough to bring it to you.”
“Well,” House detto slowly, concentrating. “It appears that I have a reputation as a genius. It’s più of a burden than a gift. Really.” He went through a couple più toss cycles. “Ready, Masters?” he said. Masters nodded that she was ready. “Okay, now!”
At his command, Masters lobbed the tennis ball into the air. It arched slightly before dropping perfectly into House’s hands. Not one beat was missed as House now juggled the four tennis balls easily.
“Perfect!” House detto happily.
“I figured out the trajectory,” Masters detto smiling. She turned toward the team. “I wrote a paper on trebuchet warfare during the 15th century. When I was in the sixth grade.”
The rest of the team just shook their heads. It was hard to hate the latest edition of the team. She was young and naïve but had the courage to stand up to House. She was soon becoming the little sister to all of them.
“With the low blood sugar and possible blood clots it could be any number of blood related diseases,” House said, while still juggling. “Masters, I’m feeling lucky. Go get the last tennis ball off of my desk. We’re going for five!”
Masters scurried into House’s office to retrieve the ball.
“She’s a hoarder,” Taub stated. Everyone turned to him. “The patient. I talked with one of the EMTs. Her house is wall-to-wall junk. Who knows what molds o bacteria has accumulated among her piles of scaduto coupons o collection of glass bottles she’ll need some day. Maybe her flu wasn’t just flu. Molds and bacteria could be responsible for the flu-like symptoms.”
By this time Masters had positioned herself across from House again. She nodded toward him indicating her readiness. House took a few più passes. “Now!” he called out.
Once again the tennis ball arched perfectly through the air and landed in House’s empty hand. He had to make no adjustments in his juggling at all. All of the team forgot the differential and watched House juggle all five balls. Masters, letting her excitement get the best of her, clapped excitedly at the show. House kept the balls going for another minuto before tossing the last one high into the air, trapping the remaining four balls in his hands, and then turning slightly to catch the fifth ball behind his back. This earned another round of applause from Masters. House grinned happily. “Awesome!” He said. “Masters, I don’t care what the other clowns say; te can be in my circus act anytime.”
Masters beamed with pride.
House turned towards the team at the conference table. “Okay, let’s get back all those test results we did this morning and see if New York Mercy missed anything. Then Chase and Taub can go to digging for moldy treasure at the patient’s house. Foreman, te and Masters check her for clots and redo her blood work. See if her body is like her mind and hoards anything it shouldn’t.”
Foreman nodded while looking at her file. “It says here that Margaret donates blood once a week. After we run the tests and if there is some disorder o infection I’ll look to see if the Red attraversare, croce needs to be notified.”
“Fine, whatever,” House said. He walked over to Chase and handed him the tennis balls to hold. He picked up the folder to take a quick look. There sure didn’t seem anything really notable that would warrant his attention on the case. “Hmmmmm. I wonder who Cuddy owes a favor to.” He flipped through the rest of the file.
“Maybe te should wonder who Cuddy wants to be owed a favor from?” detto a low female voice.
House smiled at the sound of Cuddy’s voice. He turned towards the doorway, where Cuddy stood. She leaned against the doorframe, one hand on her hip.
“Hey, gorgeous,” House said. He tossed the file down on the table.
Cuddy frowned at his greeting.
“Hey….DOCTOR Gorgeous?” House said, with a mock look of confusion.
Cuddy smiled and let it go. House had been inappropriate at work before they ever got together. Why be worried about it now?
“So?” House asked. “Who do te want to have in your back pocket?” He didn’t say anything else, but House’s sly smile gave the domanda a suggestive tone.
Cuddy walked into the room. Standing successivo to House at the head of the tavolo she looked at the team, then specifically at Foreman. “Check out the name of the referring physician.”
Those that had charts did a quick look, except Taub. He smiled and gave the answer away. “Elizabeth Schaeffer. Margaret Petticrew is Dr. Schaeffer’s mother.”
“Dr. Schaeffer?” Chase asked. “As in Dean of Medicine at New York Mercy, Dr. Schaeffer?”
Taub nodded. Everyone turned towards Foreman. As usual, no emotion crossed his face. All he did was arch an eyebrow at the information.
“Reeeeeaaaaally,” House said, intrigued.
“Beth thought that the doctors in the ER missed something. She wanted te to go over her case,” Cuddy was trying very hard to not be smug.
House had already sensed it. “But it was HER ER. And doesn’t she have her own diagnostic team?”
Cuddy nodded. “Yes, they took a look at her as well and determined that she was dehydrated from the flu and had chronic fatigue syndrome. They even concluded some of the issues could be menopause related.” Cuddy couldn’t conceal her smugness anymore. She smiled openly and gave a small laugh.
“The woman’s 68,” Chase said, incredulously. “She probably hasn’t had a menstrual cycle for 10 years.”
“Tsk. Tsk.” House said. He turned toward Foreman. “Didn’t te teach your team anything?” Foreman just shrugged. House turned to Cuddy. “Well, well. te are sure eating this up aren’t you? The only other female Dean of Medicine with a diagnostic department in the East Coast and she has to come to te for help.”
Cuddy’s smile reached all the way to her eyes. She was very pleased with herself.
“This should be fun,” House said. “I’m curious to meet this woman.” Pointing at Chase and Taub he said, “You two get to the patient’s house. Foreman, take Masters and get those blood tests done…..” He paused and then smiled wickedly. “Unless, Foreman, you’d just like to nuke the patient for some assumed cancer?”
Foreman shook his head, unamused. He simply stood up and left the room, Masters following him like a little puppy. Chase and Taub stood as well and headed out to check out Margaret’s house.
Once they were alone, House turned and smiled at Cuddy. “Well, this is quite the belated Hanukkah gift, isn’t it?”
“Only if we solve the puzzle, House,” Cuddy detto seriously. “It could go an entire different way if we end up killing Beth’s mom.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out and then you’ll always have the “I-saved-your-mom’s-life” trump card to play.”
“Thanks,” Cuddy detto sincerely.
“Now, did te come here for a real reason o just to gloat about our patient’s mom?” House asked. He turned and walked into his office. Cuddy followed him.
“Yes, I am here on official business. It seems as though we have a prankster in the hospital,” Cuddy explained. “The toilets in both the men’s and women’s restrooms were covered with plastic avvolgere at some point during the day. I’ve had a couple angry, and very wet, women in my office already. The janitor fortunately thought of checking the other bathrooms and discovered the men’s restroom outside of the ER was hit as well.” She took a deep breath. “Any chance te know something about this?”
House walked over to his scrivania, reception and picked out a paper clip from the small jar on his desk. As he pulled it out a long chain of connected paper clips followed. He kept pulling until every single clip was out of the jar. The paper clip chain was almost three feet long. House’s face did not look amused. “The coffee machine liner also had pinprick holes in it. It took Masters almost 30 minuti to clean up the mess.” He took a long look at Cuddy. “You honestly suspected me?”
Cuddy tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “If the shoe fits…,” she detto her voice trailing off.
“Well, te can see that we here in the Diagnostic Department are victims as well of this prankster but even più insulting is the fact te thought I would be responsible for pranks so obviously below my prankery level of expertise.” House let the paper clips drop onto his desk. “I would think te would know that.” He almost looked disappointed as he sat down in his desk.
Cuddy shrugged and walked over to sit on the desk. “Sorry.” She shrugged. She patted his shoulder like he was a little boy. “When it comes to pranks te usually are my go-to guy.”
“Apology accepted,” House said.
“Well, in your travels around the hospital te happen to see anything suspicious…,” Cuddy said.
“I’ll be sure to nark on them,” House supplied. “I can’t have anyone trying to steal my title.”
“Yes, that’s important.” Cuddy shook her head. She stood up and began to leave the room but turned as she reached the door. She paused then detto quietly. “Fix Schaeffer’s mom.” It wasn’t so much a command as a quiet plea.
House nodded. He looked her straight in the eye. “Guaranteed. I can’t have anyone trying to steal my title.” He smiled softly, embarrassed at his encouragement.
Cuddy nodded. “Thanks,” she detto quietly. “See te tonight.” Then she turned and walked out of the office. She hesitated a secondo in the doorway to give House a chance to check out her backside, which House took full advantage off.
Taub watched as Chase picked the lock on the house. Both had the same reaction as Chase opened the door. They gasped in unison as they say the towers of stuff.
“Holy crap,” Chase said. “This is insane.”
They both barely made it into the open spazio in front of the door. Taub had to step into the pathway so that Chase could close the door.
Taub looked around. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“I’ll go to the kitchen,” Chase responded. “You try to find the bathroom. Then we can start going through the piles for anything.”
Taub looked at Chase. “Look, don’t mess things up.” Chase raised his eyebrows. “I know, it’s a mess, but Margaret is very particular. She nearly had a panic attack when her daughter suggested cleaning some things while she was in the hospital.”
“How will she even know? There’s so much garbage here.”
“I don’t know, but just….just be respectful.”
“Fine.” Chase headed out towards the kitchen.
Taub followed the path toward the bathroom. “Do te think that this hoarding could be a symptom?” he called out to Chase.
“Maybe a mental issue o brain malfunction, I guess,” Chase said. He was standing in the kitchen, marveling at the amount of giunca, spazzatura everywhere but equally amazed at the cleanliness of the kitchen. There definitely wasn’t enough room for two people in that cucina but everything that was cleared was wiped down and tidy. Chase saw the kettle still on the stove and the two cups set out. It was not what he was expecting.
Taub had also reached the bathroom. He heard Chase’s muted reply but was engrossed in the scene before him. The doccia was completely filled with boxes. Rows of shoe boxes lined the walls. The only thing accessible was the sink and the toilet. There was maybe three feet of spazio to sposta around in was all. The odd thing was that everything was immaculate. The toilet and sick were scrubbed and clean and free of mold o scum. Squatting in the tight space, Taub opened the cabinet under the sink and found it neatly organized and also clean. He took a few test swabs around the cucina then gingerly moved some of the boxes to check for ratto pellets o any other surprises. He found none.
Chase was having the same experience in the kitchen. Although there was barely enough room for him to turn around everything was spotless. There was no evidence of any mold o toxins o rodents o anything. He heard Taub make his way into the kitchen. He turned towards him.
“Wow,” Chase said. “This is the cleanest mess I’ve ever seen.” He shrugged.
“I didn’t find anything either….aside from the huge piles of stuff and junk,” Taub said. He looked around the kitchen. There was a calendar hanging on a bulletin board on the bacheca beside the refrigerator. Each Monday was marked with “Donate blood.” Last Thursday was marked “Doc follow-up.” successivo to it was an envelope marked with “Bills To Pay.” Under that was a lista of numbers and a few personal pictures: one of Margaret and Beth together and another of an older couple standing outside the house they were now in. “Where’s the ‘Paid Bills’ envelope?” Taub muttered. He saw Chase point to the opposite bacheca where 6 bankers boxes were stacked on superiore, in alto of each other, each one labeled “Paid Bills.” He shook his head. “Well, I doubt we’re dealing with toxins o molds. I’ll go check the water heater and look for gas leaks.”
“Yeah, I’ll check out the bedroom and look for medications,” Chase said. “She’s been battling flu for the past few weeks.”
They both set about the tasks. After twenty minuti they met back up in the small spazio in front of the door. Taub had a plastic bag filled with Theraflu, sleeping pills, a large bottle of Aleve and vitamins. Chase had all negative readings. Overall, the visit to Margaret’s house ruled out environment issues, but didn’t give any hints o leads to what was wrong with Margaret. As they looked through some of the boxes and piles they realized that while it was excessive everything was fairly organized.
“She’s got the flu,” Chase said. “Maybe diabetes.” He shook his head. “I will say this. She’s organized. It’s not typical for a hoarder.” He took a long look around. “I wonder why she does this? Why would te want to hold onto everything? Forever? It’s not healthy.” He shrugged and opened the door as Taub took stepped out of the way.
Taub stood there for a secondo and the thought of his wife flashed through his mind. She still refused to stop contacting her “friend” online in the support group. She still felt justified in her friendship after all the heartache and betrayal she had experienced with her husband. He looked at the boxes and boxes and stacks of everything there in that room and realized that not everything people refuse to give up could be stored in a box. Shaking his head, Taub left the house, locking the door behind him.
Cuddy sat at her scrivania, reception in her office. The sun had begun its downward journey and she still had mounds of paperwork to complete. There would have to be a miracle for her to get home before her nanny left at 8. Cuddy had almost successfully managed the double life she led as hospital administrator and mother. She had thought that as Rachel got older it would be easier. After all, the time she took to just take care of Rachel’s simple needs was getting shorter. Rachel had finally been potty trained. She could feed herself and was communicating really well. But Cuddy was now discovering that Rachel had begun to need Cuddy’s presence più now as a companion. Gone were the days of caregiver. Rachel needed a mom now.
Cuddy never went to work on Saturday, instead keeping her phone in her pocket all day. Three days a week, including Friday, Cuddy had arranged her schedule to be home da 5pm. She protected those evenings seriously. Now that House had begun staying the night più frequently, she could spend the entire evening with Rachel and put her to bed, then give the attention to House that they both craved. Yet, the other three days of the week found Cuddy staying much later than she wanted to. Some days in order to make up for the days she left early she would be at work till 9pm, coming home only after Rachel had long been put to letto da the nanny. Cuddy felt as though she was missing half of her daughter’s life experience.
Guilt had always been an issue with Cuddy. Guilt was one of the main motivating factors in just about all the personal things she did. The other factor was a drive to be the best. Those two factors played on each other all the time. Lately, feelings of failure at being a good mother and a good hospital administrator had pushed her guilt level to an ultimate high.
When Beth Schaeffer had called to ask if House could look at her mother, Cuddy was thrilled at the opportunity for one-upmanship. But her feelings of victory soon turned to fear at the thought that Dr. Schaeffer would easily see how low her competition had sunk.
Cuddy ran a tired hand over her face. She put her pen down and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it back from her face and stretching out her neck. Releasing her hair she looked at the clock again. 7:30. Cuddy closed her eyes in defeat. The sound of a knock on the door quickly opened her eyes again. She looked to see who it could be at this hour. She had sent her assistant home long ago. She trapped a sigh in her throat when she saw her late-night visitor. She motioned Dr. Beth Schaeffer into her office.
Schaeffer strode purposefully into the room. She stopped inches from the front of Cuddy’s scrivania, reception and set her hands on her hips. Schaeffer was in charge of her own hospital and no one intimidated her.
“Lisa,” Schaeffer detto forcefully. “I want to know when your famous Dr. House is going to grace my mother with his presence. She’s been here now almost an entire giorno and I’ve dealt only with his team. I know they’re good doctors but I didn’t make these arrangements to have them diagnose her.”
Cuddy nodded. She wouldn’t take this attack personally, she decided. After all, right now Beth Schaeffer was just another worried relative. “I understand your concern, Beth. Really I do.” She motioned for Schaeffer to take a seat. “Dr. House stays in contact with his team at all times. I know personally that he was in a DDX with them just a few hours ago. He instructed them to pursue certain paths towards some theories.” Cuddy reached for a folder on her scrivania, reception corner. Opening it she quickly read through the latest notes. “Doctors Masters and Foreman are currently running blood work and other tests to be sure what was done at the ER was done correctly.” She looked up, embarrassed, because she had essentially just dissed Schaeffer’s own ER.
“That’s exactly what I would have done,” Schaeffer said, waving off Cuddy’s concerns.
Cuddy nodded, relieved, and continued. “Doctors Taub and Chase returned from your mother’s home with no hard findings although they are running tests right now in the lab for environmental causes.” Cuddy looked up to see Schaeffer’s face had Lost all its color. Cuddy had heard briefly that the patient was a hoarder but hadn’t really thought much of it so she thought that Schaeffer’s change of attitude had to do with the unlawful break-in and violation of privacy. “Look, I understand it’s not exactly the best thing to do, but the team often finds clues to a patient’s disease from examining his home o work. I hope….” Cuddy’s explanation was cut off.
“I don’t know why my mother has to keep all that crap. I have tried to talk reason with her, but it’s like talking to a wall,” Schaeffer’s words rushed out.
Cuddy was surprised. Schaeffer was actually embarrassed da her mother, well at least her mother’s living habits. Cuddy herself couldn’t understand how anyone could live that way, but according to Taub and Chase the place, although filled to the ceiling with seemingly useless things, was extremely clean and tidy. She began to speak but Schaeffer spoke again.
“She’s been doing this my whole life. It started when her parents died. My father left us because of it. I thought once I moved her out and into a smaller home she’d stop. te would have thought I cut her legs off when I refused to sposta all the garbage with her to the new place.” Schaeffer sighed in disgust and frustration. Then she looked at Cuddy. She suddenly seemed embarrassed for sharing so much with Cuddy. She shook her head. “So what has the team discovered so far?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
Cuddy was fascinated. She never thought Schaeffer would be the type to be so closed minded, especially with her own mother. Heaven knows I am polar opposites of my own mother, Cuddy thought, but I still Amore her. I’m still proud of who she it.
“Beth, I’m sorry for the invasion of privacy, but it did reveal that despite the….things in your mom’s house, it’s free of toxins, molds, and any other harmful environmental causes,” Cuddy detto softly. “Everything was very organized at her home. We had no problem getting the swabs o information.”
“Did te try to get into the secondo bedroom?” Schaeffer said, almost harshly. “That room hasn’t seen the light of giorno for eight years.”
“Does your mom have any animali o a basement in the house we didn’t see?”
Schaeffer shook her head.
“Then I feel fine in saying that her problems are not environmental. Her obsession is not causing her illness.”
“No, that would be too easy a fix, wouldn’t it?” Schaeffer said. “She’d have to clean out her house if that was the problem, but no, I’m not that lucky,” she muttered.
Cuddy took a moment to let the situation diffuse. “Let’s wait for the other test results and then I’ll make sure House visits te and your mother personally first thing in the morning. Okay?”
Schaeffer had gone quiet. She looked at Cuddy and just nodded, all the bluster blown away da her embarrassment that her secret had been found out. She sighed again. “Thank you, Lisa. I just… te know. Parents. They’re never what te thought they were.”
Cuddy’s thought immediately turned inward toward her own feelings of inadequacy. She nodded in reply.
Schaeffer’s own commento seemed to jar a memory for her. “Oh, didn’t te adopt a baby?” she asked. “I thought I heard that through the grapevine.”
Cuddy smiled. “Yes, her name is Rachel. She’s almost three.”
“That’s wonderful. I don’t know how te do it. I couldn’t even keep my marriage together with this job we have. Taking care of a baby must be overwhelming.”
Cuddy didn’t think Schaeffer was being intentional derogatory, but she still felt the sting of the innocent comment. “Yes, it’s hard. I’ve had to make adjustments.”
Schaeffer nodded and gave a quiet chuckle. “I don’t doubt it. I’m surprised te don’t have a culla, presepe and a box of toys here just so te could see your daughter.” Her face grew solemn. “I know if I ever had the chance to raise a kid I’d definitely put her needs ahead of accumulating stuff. Things.” Schaeffer had only been speaking on her own childhood and about her own experience but seeing the look on Cuddy’s face made her realize she had hit a nerve. She tried to make amends. “Just from my own experience, Lisa. Not you….. I’m sure that you….. That you’re a great mom. And the hospital is very well run. Really.”
Cuddy nodded. “I know, Beth. No offense taken. Really. In fact, I need to be getting home so….” She stood and came around the desk. “I know you’re worried about your mom. I know te want risposte now. We’ll do our best to find those answers, okay?” She placed a reassuring hand on Schaeffer’s shoulder.
Schaeffer nodded. “Thank you,” she detto again.
At that moment Cuddy’s office door burst open and without even turning Cuddy knew who it was. Only one person in the world felt like he could enter her office without knocking. Cuddy looked up to see House striding toward her. She quickly flashed her back off look and grabbed Dr. Schaeffer’s arm to help her stand. “The nurses can set up a letto in your mom’s room if te want o the hospital has a discounted rate at the Marriott down the street. I can have the nurse call for you.”
Hearing Cuddy, House realized who she was talking too. He knew Cuddy wouldn’t want him to say anything rude o insulting and really he couldn’t always promise that unless he detto nothing at all. He made a beeline towards the divano to wait out the rest of the conversation. It looked almost done anyway. He picked up one of the travel magazines on Cuddy’s side table.
Schaeffer stood. “I already arranged for the nurses to set up a letto in my mother’s room,” she detto to Cuddy. She then turned toward the man who had just entered the room. “Doctor House, so nice to finally meet you.”
Cuddy silently willed House to be polite.
House took a moment to answer, which did nothing for Cuddy’s anxiousness. He wasn’t going to say anything, but it would be rude not to answer Dr. Schaeffer, wouldn’t it?
“Likewise,” House finally said, not bothering to get up o even look at Schaeffer. “I’ve always wanted to meet the one who handed Foreman’s balls to him even though he saved your patient’s life.” He finally looked up at Schaeffer, seemingly examining her soul with his clear blue eyes. “I guess Foreman should have let the girl die. At least your rules and regulations would have been met.”
Schaeffer’s body stiffened for a brief second, but her experience and skill as a hospital administrator kicked in. “Rules and regulations are there for a reason. The successivo time Foreman pulled a stunt like that he may have been wrong.”
“Or he may have been right. Again.”
Cuddy walked over to Schaeffer. “Come on, Beth. te need some rest. It’s been a stressful day.”
Schaeffer stared at House again. “I will put up with te House, but only because I need te to diagnose my mother.”
“Understood,” House said, nodding. He returned the magazine to the tavolo and leaned back against the couch, putting his hands behind his head and linking his fingers. He smiled. “I bet te won’t put up with as much as te think te will. Even for your mother’s sake.”
Cuddy all but shoved Schaeffer out the door, bidding her a good night again. She turned toward House, but there was no anger o frustration in her expression. She came over and sat da him on the couch. House’s arm quickly encircled Cuddy’s shoulders and pulled her close. He looked down at her. “What, no reprimand?”
Cuddy shook her head. “You actually stood up for one of your team.”
“Trying to look for the positive?”
“Always,” Cuddy replied. “It helps when I deal with you.”
House smiled. “Funny.” House sobered up. He remembered the look Cuddy had when he entered the office. She might have been wearing a sign that read “Horribly inadequate at everything.” He subconsciously began rubbing Cuddy’s bare arm. Cuddy loved it when he did this. She didn’t even think he was aware of it and it had a power to soothe her like nothing else.
“So what did the good doctor say?” House asked.
“Beth? She demanded to know why te hadn’t been in to quickly give her mother your genius diagnosis yet,” Cuddy detto smiling.
“Sorry, I had to finish up a letter to Penthouse. I am three for three on getting published and I had to make this fourth one really shine. Can’t break my streak.”
“It’s good to have goals,” Cuddy said, laughing softly.
“So what did the good doctor say to make te feel like the failure te are definitely not?” House detto softly after a moment. Cuddy turned quickly to look at her lover. She was well aware of his skill at observation, but at times it still amazed her.
Cuddy ducked her head. “She asked about Rachel. She was amazed I was able to balance everything.”
House nodded. “You do.”
Cuddy shook her head. “I don’t.”
“Stop it.”
Cuddy detto nothing. House reached over with his other hand and put his fingers on Cuddy’s chin. He lifted her face so that she was looking at him. “Stop it.”
Cuddy’s eyes misted, “Rachel is getting older and I’m spending less quality time. I should be with her more,” she detto in a rush. “The hospital is behind on some accreditations and somebody program all the automatic voice answering systems to French. I’ve got to…” she didn’t get to finish the sentence because House covered her mouth with his in a gentle kiss. He kissed her one più time before pulling back.
“Stop it.”
Cuddy smiled and leaned back into him. She brought her hand up to his face and cupping his cheek gave him another soft kiss, followed da another and another. Cuddy rarely gave in to displays of affection at work. Especially when the blinds weren’t shut and the door locked, but she needed House’s comfort right now, his confidence. She began to push him down on the couch, but House stopped her.
“This modern divano of yours is much too short for proper work lovemaking,” he detto placing a gentle baciare on her chin. He looked over towards her desk. “I think there’s più spazio over there.”
Cuddy followed his gaze and smiled. “You’re insane.”
“We’ve done it before,” House detto softly.
“No, we tried to, but my roommate came home. Remember? We ended up going to your place that night,” Cuddy kissed House and lingered on his lips. “That one night.”
“So haven’t te always wondered….” House detto as he began to rise from the couch, encircling Cuddy in his arms. He kissed her again.
Cuddy laughed again. “You are insane. Besides, I have too many papers on it. I never found the first page of my winter dissertation after that da the way.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against him. She kissed him più ardently.
House easily lifted Cuddy a few inches from the floor and began to make his way to her desk. “House!” she detto against his neck. “We can’t.” She didn’t do anything to stop him however.
They were at the edge of the desk. House let Cuddy slide down his body so she could stand on the floor. He let go of her and was going to sweep off her scrivania, reception when the harsh buzzing of their pagers broke the hot silence. House paused and looked at Cuddy before grabbing his pager from his belt.
“Damn,” House said. Cuddy looked at him, the heat in her eyes dissipating rapidly. “It’s a good thing Dr. Schaeffer decided to stay in the hospital. Her mother’s having a stroke.”
CUT TO COMMERCIAL
XXX
Letting Go
Act Two
FADE IN
The tennis ball flew up in the sky. Reaching its apex it began to fall back down. House watched it carefully, prepared to catch it with his right hand as his left hand let go of another tennis ball. A third ball took its turn into the sky.
“Okay,” House detto quietly. “When I say go.” He caught the first ball. “Go!”
At the word, Chase let go of the ball he had in his hand, arching it up toward House to try to match the route of the other balls. But his aim was off and the ball sailed over House’s head da a good two feet. House stopped juggling and stared at Chase.
“Sorry,” Chase mumbled.
“It’s a tennis ball,” House said. “Not a rugby ball.”
“Sorry,” Chase repeated. “I told te I couldn’t do it.” He held up his hands and walked back to the conference tavolo in the diagnosis department office. Shaking his head he sat down and picked up the case file.
House turned towards the table. “Taub, your turn,” he said.
“Not a chance,” Taub said. “Pick someone else to humiliate.”
House turned to Foreman. House merely raised his eyebrows. Foreman looked up from the case file to meet House’s gaze.
“No,” Foreman detto pointedly. “Our patient is a 68-year-old woman who experienced chest pain radiating down her left arm. She passed out shortly thereafter. The ER at New York Mercy ruled out a cuore attack and only detected a fleeting arrhythmia, which regulated itself after a few hours. Her blood sugar was low but also returned to normal range.”
“Stop trying to distract me,” House said. He turned towards Masters and started to say something to her, but stopped and returned to Foreman. “New York Mercy?” House said. “Blast from the past, eh, Foreman?”
Foreman shook his head. “I had nothing to do with the ER,” Foreman said.
“Yeah, and after nuking that girl te had nothing to do with the rest of the hospital,” House said. He smiled.
Foreman shook his head. “I was right.”
“Didn’t matter,” House said. “At least not to Mercy’s boss. Too bad te weren’t sleeping with her.”
Foreman again shook his head in dismay. How did they let House get away with saying these things? “You pulled stunts like that for a long time before te were sleeping with your boss.”
House nodded. “You’re right. I guess Cuddy’s always been sweet on me. Lucky for all of us.” House returned then to Masters. “Your turn.” He detto to her.
Masters looked scared. “I can’t guarantee I can do it any better than Chase could.” She mumbled.
“Nonsense. Use that super brain of yours to figure out the trajectory o whatever and toss the ball. Shouldn’t be too hard for a genius like you,” House said. He retrieved the ball Chase had thrown over his head and handed it to Masters, who looked deep in thought as House positioned himself about four feet in front of Masters.
“What about our patient?” Taub asked, already knowing the answer, but wanting to sound like he was contributing.
“I can do both the juggling and the differential,” House said, putting two balls in his right hand and one in his left. “I am that good.” He tossed the balls into the air, carefully juggling them as he spoke. “Did the ER check for possible blood clots?”
Foreman, understanding where he was going with this answered, “They took it into consideration but never confirmed. The patient’s vitals returned to normal after a few IV bags.” He paused to watch House for a second. “If she did throw a clot it may not even be detectable now. With her slightly high blood pressure she’s a good candidate for some metabolic syndromes.”
“You think Cushing’s?” House said, still juggling.
“Possibly o maybe just hypertension,” Foreman shrugged. “It sure seems like it’s nothing serious…or at least nothing mysterious enough to bring it to you.”
“Well,” House detto slowly, concentrating. “It appears that I have a reputation as a genius. It’s più of a burden than a gift. Really.” He went through a couple più toss cycles. “Ready, Masters?” he said. Masters nodded that she was ready. “Okay, now!”
At his command, Masters lobbed the tennis ball into the air. It arched slightly before dropping perfectly into House’s hands. Not one beat was missed as House now juggled the four tennis balls easily.
“Perfect!” House detto happily.
“I figured out the trajectory,” Masters detto smiling. She turned toward the team. “I wrote a paper on trebuchet warfare during the 15th century. When I was in the sixth grade.”
The rest of the team just shook their heads. It was hard to hate the latest edition of the team. She was young and naïve but had the courage to stand up to House. She was soon becoming the little sister to all of them.
“With the low blood sugar and possible blood clots it could be any number of blood related diseases,” House said, while still juggling. “Masters, I’m feeling lucky. Go get the last tennis ball off of my desk. We’re going for five!”
Masters scurried into House’s office to retrieve the ball.
“She’s a hoarder,” Taub stated. Everyone turned to him. “The patient. I talked with one of the EMTs. Her house is wall-to-wall junk. Who knows what molds o bacteria has accumulated among her piles of scaduto coupons o collection of glass bottles she’ll need some day. Maybe her flu wasn’t just flu. Molds and bacteria could be responsible for the flu-like symptoms.”
By this time Masters had positioned herself across from House again. She nodded toward him indicating her readiness. House took a few più passes. “Now!” he called out.
Once again the tennis ball arched perfectly through the air and landed in House’s empty hand. He had to make no adjustments in his juggling at all. All of the team forgot the differential and watched House juggle all five balls. Masters, letting her excitement get the best of her, clapped excitedly at the show. House kept the balls going for another minuto before tossing the last one high into the air, trapping the remaining four balls in his hands, and then turning slightly to catch the fifth ball behind his back. This earned another round of applause from Masters. House grinned happily. “Awesome!” He said. “Masters, I don’t care what the other clowns say; te can be in my circus act anytime.”
Masters beamed with pride.
House turned towards the team at the conference table. “Okay, let’s get back all those test results we did this morning and see if New York Mercy missed anything. Then Chase and Taub can go to digging for moldy treasure at the patient’s house. Foreman, te and Masters check her for clots and redo her blood work. See if her body is like her mind and hoards anything it shouldn’t.”
Foreman nodded while looking at her file. “It says here that Margaret donates blood once a week. After we run the tests and if there is some disorder o infection I’ll look to see if the Red attraversare, croce needs to be notified.”
“Fine, whatever,” House said. He walked over to Chase and handed him the tennis balls to hold. He picked up the folder to take a quick look. There sure didn’t seem anything really notable that would warrant his attention on the case. “Hmmmmm. I wonder who Cuddy owes a favor to.” He flipped through the rest of the file.
“Maybe te should wonder who Cuddy wants to be owed a favor from?” detto a low female voice.
House smiled at the sound of Cuddy’s voice. He turned towards the doorway, where Cuddy stood. She leaned against the doorframe, one hand on her hip.
“Hey, gorgeous,” House said. He tossed the file down on the table.
Cuddy frowned at his greeting.
“Hey….DOCTOR Gorgeous?” House said, with a mock look of confusion.
Cuddy smiled and let it go. House had been inappropriate at work before they ever got together. Why be worried about it now?
“So?” House asked. “Who do te want to have in your back pocket?” He didn’t say anything else, but House’s sly smile gave the domanda a suggestive tone.
Cuddy walked into the room. Standing successivo to House at the head of the tavolo she looked at the team, then specifically at Foreman. “Check out the name of the referring physician.”
Those that had charts did a quick look, except Taub. He smiled and gave the answer away. “Elizabeth Schaeffer. Margaret Petticrew is Dr. Schaeffer’s mother.”
“Dr. Schaeffer?” Chase asked. “As in Dean of Medicine at New York Mercy, Dr. Schaeffer?”
Taub nodded. Everyone turned towards Foreman. As usual, no emotion crossed his face. All he did was arch an eyebrow at the information.
“Reeeeeaaaaally,” House said, intrigued.
“Beth thought that the doctors in the ER missed something. She wanted te to go over her case,” Cuddy was trying very hard to not be smug.
House had already sensed it. “But it was HER ER. And doesn’t she have her own diagnostic team?”
Cuddy nodded. “Yes, they took a look at her as well and determined that she was dehydrated from the flu and had chronic fatigue syndrome. They even concluded some of the issues could be menopause related.” Cuddy couldn’t conceal her smugness anymore. She smiled openly and gave a small laugh.
“The woman’s 68,” Chase said, incredulously. “She probably hasn’t had a menstrual cycle for 10 years.”
“Tsk. Tsk.” House said. He turned toward Foreman. “Didn’t te teach your team anything?” Foreman just shrugged. House turned to Cuddy. “Well, well. te are sure eating this up aren’t you? The only other female Dean of Medicine with a diagnostic department in the East Coast and she has to come to te for help.”
Cuddy’s smile reached all the way to her eyes. She was very pleased with herself.
“This should be fun,” House said. “I’m curious to meet this woman.” Pointing at Chase and Taub he said, “You two get to the patient’s house. Foreman, take Masters and get those blood tests done…..” He paused and then smiled wickedly. “Unless, Foreman, you’d just like to nuke the patient for some assumed cancer?”
Foreman shook his head, unamused. He simply stood up and left the room, Masters following him like a little puppy. Chase and Taub stood as well and headed out to check out Margaret’s house.
Once they were alone, House turned and smiled at Cuddy. “Well, this is quite the belated Hanukkah gift, isn’t it?”
“Only if we solve the puzzle, House,” Cuddy detto seriously. “It could go an entire different way if we end up killing Beth’s mom.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out and then you’ll always have the “I-saved-your-mom’s-life” trump card to play.”
“Thanks,” Cuddy detto sincerely.
“Now, did te come here for a real reason o just to gloat about our patient’s mom?” House asked. He turned and walked into his office. Cuddy followed him.
“Yes, I am here on official business. It seems as though we have a prankster in the hospital,” Cuddy explained. “The toilets in both the men’s and women’s restrooms were covered with plastic avvolgere at some point during the day. I’ve had a couple angry, and very wet, women in my office already. The janitor fortunately thought of checking the other bathrooms and discovered the men’s restroom outside of the ER was hit as well.” She took a deep breath. “Any chance te know something about this?”
House walked over to his scrivania, reception and picked out a paper clip from the small jar on his desk. As he pulled it out a long chain of connected paper clips followed. He kept pulling until every single clip was out of the jar. The paper clip chain was almost three feet long. House’s face did not look amused. “The coffee machine liner also had pinprick holes in it. It took Masters almost 30 minuti to clean up the mess.” He took a long look at Cuddy. “You honestly suspected me?”
Cuddy tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “If the shoe fits…,” she detto her voice trailing off.
“Well, te can see that we here in the Diagnostic Department are victims as well of this prankster but even più insulting is the fact te thought I would be responsible for pranks so obviously below my prankery level of expertise.” House let the paper clips drop onto his desk. “I would think te would know that.” He almost looked disappointed as he sat down in his desk.
Cuddy shrugged and walked over to sit on the desk. “Sorry.” She shrugged. She patted his shoulder like he was a little boy. “When it comes to pranks te usually are my go-to guy.”
“Apology accepted,” House said.
“Well, in your travels around the hospital te happen to see anything suspicious…,” Cuddy said.
“I’ll be sure to nark on them,” House supplied. “I can’t have anyone trying to steal my title.”
“Yes, that’s important.” Cuddy shook her head. She stood up and began to leave the room but turned as she reached the door. She paused then detto quietly. “Fix Schaeffer’s mom.” It wasn’t so much a command as a quiet plea.
House nodded. He looked her straight in the eye. “Guaranteed. I can’t have anyone trying to steal my title.” He smiled softly, embarrassed at his encouragement.
Cuddy nodded. “Thanks,” she detto quietly. “See te tonight.” Then she turned and walked out of the office. She hesitated a secondo in the doorway to give House a chance to check out her backside, which House took full advantage off.
Taub watched as Chase picked the lock on the house. Both had the same reaction as Chase opened the door. They gasped in unison as they say the towers of stuff.
“Holy crap,” Chase said. “This is insane.”
They both barely made it into the open spazio in front of the door. Taub had to step into the pathway so that Chase could close the door.
Taub looked around. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“I’ll go to the kitchen,” Chase responded. “You try to find the bathroom. Then we can start going through the piles for anything.”
Taub looked at Chase. “Look, don’t mess things up.” Chase raised his eyebrows. “I know, it’s a mess, but Margaret is very particular. She nearly had a panic attack when her daughter suggested cleaning some things while she was in the hospital.”
“How will she even know? There’s so much garbage here.”
“I don’t know, but just….just be respectful.”
“Fine.” Chase headed out towards the kitchen.
Taub followed the path toward the bathroom. “Do te think that this hoarding could be a symptom?” he called out to Chase.
“Maybe a mental issue o brain malfunction, I guess,” Chase said. He was standing in the kitchen, marveling at the amount of giunca, spazzatura everywhere but equally amazed at the cleanliness of the kitchen. There definitely wasn’t enough room for two people in that cucina but everything that was cleared was wiped down and tidy. Chase saw the kettle still on the stove and the two cups set out. It was not what he was expecting.
Taub had also reached the bathroom. He heard Chase’s muted reply but was engrossed in the scene before him. The doccia was completely filled with boxes. Rows of shoe boxes lined the walls. The only thing accessible was the sink and the toilet. There was maybe three feet of spazio to sposta around in was all. The odd thing was that everything was immaculate. The toilet and sick were scrubbed and clean and free of mold o scum. Squatting in the tight space, Taub opened the cabinet under the sink and found it neatly organized and also clean. He took a few test swabs around the cucina then gingerly moved some of the boxes to check for ratto pellets o any other surprises. He found none.
Chase was having the same experience in the kitchen. Although there was barely enough room for him to turn around everything was spotless. There was no evidence of any mold o toxins o rodents o anything. He heard Taub make his way into the kitchen. He turned towards him.
“Wow,” Chase said. “This is the cleanest mess I’ve ever seen.” He shrugged.
“I didn’t find anything either….aside from the huge piles of stuff and junk,” Taub said. He looked around the kitchen. There was a calendar hanging on a bulletin board on the bacheca beside the refrigerator. Each Monday was marked with “Donate blood.” Last Thursday was marked “Doc follow-up.” successivo to it was an envelope marked with “Bills To Pay.” Under that was a lista of numbers and a few personal pictures: one of Margaret and Beth together and another of an older couple standing outside the house they were now in. “Where’s the ‘Paid Bills’ envelope?” Taub muttered. He saw Chase point to the opposite bacheca where 6 bankers boxes were stacked on superiore, in alto of each other, each one labeled “Paid Bills.” He shook his head. “Well, I doubt we’re dealing with toxins o molds. I’ll go check the water heater and look for gas leaks.”
“Yeah, I’ll check out the bedroom and look for medications,” Chase said. “She’s been battling flu for the past few weeks.”
They both set about the tasks. After twenty minuti they met back up in the small spazio in front of the door. Taub had a plastic bag filled with Theraflu, sleeping pills, a large bottle of Aleve and vitamins. Chase had all negative readings. Overall, the visit to Margaret’s house ruled out environment issues, but didn’t give any hints o leads to what was wrong with Margaret. As they looked through some of the boxes and piles they realized that while it was excessive everything was fairly organized.
“She’s got the flu,” Chase said. “Maybe diabetes.” He shook his head. “I will say this. She’s organized. It’s not typical for a hoarder.” He took a long look around. “I wonder why she does this? Why would te want to hold onto everything? Forever? It’s not healthy.” He shrugged and opened the door as Taub took stepped out of the way.
Taub stood there for a secondo and the thought of his wife flashed through his mind. She still refused to stop contacting her “friend” online in the support group. She still felt justified in her friendship after all the heartache and betrayal she had experienced with her husband. He looked at the boxes and boxes and stacks of everything there in that room and realized that not everything people refuse to give up could be stored in a box. Shaking his head, Taub left the house, locking the door behind him.
Cuddy sat at her scrivania, reception in her office. The sun had begun its downward journey and she still had mounds of paperwork to complete. There would have to be a miracle for her to get home before her nanny left at 8. Cuddy had almost successfully managed the double life she led as hospital administrator and mother. She had thought that as Rachel got older it would be easier. After all, the time she took to just take care of Rachel’s simple needs was getting shorter. Rachel had finally been potty trained. She could feed herself and was communicating really well. But Cuddy was now discovering that Rachel had begun to need Cuddy’s presence più now as a companion. Gone were the days of caregiver. Rachel needed a mom now.
Cuddy never went to work on Saturday, instead keeping her phone in her pocket all day. Three days a week, including Friday, Cuddy had arranged her schedule to be home da 5pm. She protected those evenings seriously. Now that House had begun staying the night più frequently, she could spend the entire evening with Rachel and put her to bed, then give the attention to House that they both craved. Yet, the other three days of the week found Cuddy staying much later than she wanted to. Some days in order to make up for the days she left early she would be at work till 9pm, coming home only after Rachel had long been put to letto da the nanny. Cuddy felt as though she was missing half of her daughter’s life experience.
Guilt had always been an issue with Cuddy. Guilt was one of the main motivating factors in just about all the personal things she did. The other factor was a drive to be the best. Those two factors played on each other all the time. Lately, feelings of failure at being a good mother and a good hospital administrator had pushed her guilt level to an ultimate high.
When Beth Schaeffer had called to ask if House could look at her mother, Cuddy was thrilled at the opportunity for one-upmanship. But her feelings of victory soon turned to fear at the thought that Dr. Schaeffer would easily see how low her competition had sunk.
Cuddy ran a tired hand over her face. She put her pen down and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it back from her face and stretching out her neck. Releasing her hair she looked at the clock again. 7:30. Cuddy closed her eyes in defeat. The sound of a knock on the door quickly opened her eyes again. She looked to see who it could be at this hour. She had sent her assistant home long ago. She trapped a sigh in her throat when she saw her late-night visitor. She motioned Dr. Beth Schaeffer into her office.
Schaeffer strode purposefully into the room. She stopped inches from the front of Cuddy’s scrivania, reception and set her hands on her hips. Schaeffer was in charge of her own hospital and no one intimidated her.
“Lisa,” Schaeffer detto forcefully. “I want to know when your famous Dr. House is going to grace my mother with his presence. She’s been here now almost an entire giorno and I’ve dealt only with his team. I know they’re good doctors but I didn’t make these arrangements to have them diagnose her.”
Cuddy nodded. She wouldn’t take this attack personally, she decided. After all, right now Beth Schaeffer was just another worried relative. “I understand your concern, Beth. Really I do.” She motioned for Schaeffer to take a seat. “Dr. House stays in contact with his team at all times. I know personally that he was in a DDX with them just a few hours ago. He instructed them to pursue certain paths towards some theories.” Cuddy reached for a folder on her scrivania, reception corner. Opening it she quickly read through the latest notes. “Doctors Masters and Foreman are currently running blood work and other tests to be sure what was done at the ER was done correctly.” She looked up, embarrassed, because she had essentially just dissed Schaeffer’s own ER.
“That’s exactly what I would have done,” Schaeffer said, waving off Cuddy’s concerns.
Cuddy nodded, relieved, and continued. “Doctors Taub and Chase returned from your mother’s home with no hard findings although they are running tests right now in the lab for environmental causes.” Cuddy looked up to see Schaeffer’s face had Lost all its color. Cuddy had heard briefly that the patient was a hoarder but hadn’t really thought much of it so she thought that Schaeffer’s change of attitude had to do with the unlawful break-in and violation of privacy. “Look, I understand it’s not exactly the best thing to do, but the team often finds clues to a patient’s disease from examining his home o work. I hope….” Cuddy’s explanation was cut off.
“I don’t know why my mother has to keep all that crap. I have tried to talk reason with her, but it’s like talking to a wall,” Schaeffer’s words rushed out.
Cuddy was surprised. Schaeffer was actually embarrassed da her mother, well at least her mother’s living habits. Cuddy herself couldn’t understand how anyone could live that way, but according to Taub and Chase the place, although filled to the ceiling with seemingly useless things, was extremely clean and tidy. She began to speak but Schaeffer spoke again.
“She’s been doing this my whole life. It started when her parents died. My father left us because of it. I thought once I moved her out and into a smaller home she’d stop. te would have thought I cut her legs off when I refused to sposta all the garbage with her to the new place.” Schaeffer sighed in disgust and frustration. Then she looked at Cuddy. She suddenly seemed embarrassed for sharing so much with Cuddy. She shook her head. “So what has the team discovered so far?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
Cuddy was fascinated. She never thought Schaeffer would be the type to be so closed minded, especially with her own mother. Heaven knows I am polar opposites of my own mother, Cuddy thought, but I still Amore her. I’m still proud of who she it.
“Beth, I’m sorry for the invasion of privacy, but it did reveal that despite the….things in your mom’s house, it’s free of toxins, molds, and any other harmful environmental causes,” Cuddy detto softly. “Everything was very organized at her home. We had no problem getting the swabs o information.”
“Did te try to get into the secondo bedroom?” Schaeffer said, almost harshly. “That room hasn’t seen the light of giorno for eight years.”
“Does your mom have any animali o a basement in the house we didn’t see?”
Schaeffer shook her head.
“Then I feel fine in saying that her problems are not environmental. Her obsession is not causing her illness.”
“No, that would be too easy a fix, wouldn’t it?” Schaeffer said. “She’d have to clean out her house if that was the problem, but no, I’m not that lucky,” she muttered.
Cuddy took a moment to let the situation diffuse. “Let’s wait for the other test results and then I’ll make sure House visits te and your mother personally first thing in the morning. Okay?”
Schaeffer had gone quiet. She looked at Cuddy and just nodded, all the bluster blown away da her embarrassment that her secret had been found out. She sighed again. “Thank you, Lisa. I just… te know. Parents. They’re never what te thought they were.”
Cuddy’s thought immediately turned inward toward her own feelings of inadequacy. She nodded in reply.
Schaeffer’s own commento seemed to jar a memory for her. “Oh, didn’t te adopt a baby?” she asked. “I thought I heard that through the grapevine.”
Cuddy smiled. “Yes, her name is Rachel. She’s almost three.”
“That’s wonderful. I don’t know how te do it. I couldn’t even keep my marriage together with this job we have. Taking care of a baby must be overwhelming.”
Cuddy didn’t think Schaeffer was being intentional derogatory, but she still felt the sting of the innocent comment. “Yes, it’s hard. I’ve had to make adjustments.”
Schaeffer nodded and gave a quiet chuckle. “I don’t doubt it. I’m surprised te don’t have a culla, presepe and a box of toys here just so te could see your daughter.” Her face grew solemn. “I know if I ever had the chance to raise a kid I’d definitely put her needs ahead of accumulating stuff. Things.” Schaeffer had only been speaking on her own childhood and about her own experience but seeing the look on Cuddy’s face made her realize she had hit a nerve. She tried to make amends. “Just from my own experience, Lisa. Not you….. I’m sure that you….. That you’re a great mom. And the hospital is very well run. Really.”
Cuddy nodded. “I know, Beth. No offense taken. Really. In fact, I need to be getting home so….” She stood and came around the desk. “I know you’re worried about your mom. I know te want risposte now. We’ll do our best to find those answers, okay?” She placed a reassuring hand on Schaeffer’s shoulder.
Schaeffer nodded. “Thank you,” she detto again.
At that moment Cuddy’s office door burst open and without even turning Cuddy knew who it was. Only one person in the world felt like he could enter her office without knocking. Cuddy looked up to see House striding toward her. She quickly flashed her back off look and grabbed Dr. Schaeffer’s arm to help her stand. “The nurses can set up a letto in your mom’s room if te want o the hospital has a discounted rate at the Marriott down the street. I can have the nurse call for you.”
Hearing Cuddy, House realized who she was talking too. He knew Cuddy wouldn’t want him to say anything rude o insulting and really he couldn’t always promise that unless he detto nothing at all. He made a beeline towards the divano to wait out the rest of the conversation. It looked almost done anyway. He picked up one of the travel magazines on Cuddy’s side table.
Schaeffer stood. “I already arranged for the nurses to set up a letto in my mother’s room,” she detto to Cuddy. She then turned toward the man who had just entered the room. “Doctor House, so nice to finally meet you.”
Cuddy silently willed House to be polite.
House took a moment to answer, which did nothing for Cuddy’s anxiousness. He wasn’t going to say anything, but it would be rude not to answer Dr. Schaeffer, wouldn’t it?
“Likewise,” House finally said, not bothering to get up o even look at Schaeffer. “I’ve always wanted to meet the one who handed Foreman’s balls to him even though he saved your patient’s life.” He finally looked up at Schaeffer, seemingly examining her soul with his clear blue eyes. “I guess Foreman should have let the girl die. At least your rules and regulations would have been met.”
Schaeffer’s body stiffened for a brief second, but her experience and skill as a hospital administrator kicked in. “Rules and regulations are there for a reason. The successivo time Foreman pulled a stunt like that he may have been wrong.”
“Or he may have been right. Again.”
Cuddy walked over to Schaeffer. “Come on, Beth. te need some rest. It’s been a stressful day.”
Schaeffer stared at House again. “I will put up with te House, but only because I need te to diagnose my mother.”
“Understood,” House said, nodding. He returned the magazine to the tavolo and leaned back against the couch, putting his hands behind his head and linking his fingers. He smiled. “I bet te won’t put up with as much as te think te will. Even for your mother’s sake.”
Cuddy all but shoved Schaeffer out the door, bidding her a good night again. She turned toward House, but there was no anger o frustration in her expression. She came over and sat da him on the couch. House’s arm quickly encircled Cuddy’s shoulders and pulled her close. He looked down at her. “What, no reprimand?”
Cuddy shook her head. “You actually stood up for one of your team.”
“Trying to look for the positive?”
“Always,” Cuddy replied. “It helps when I deal with you.”
House smiled. “Funny.” House sobered up. He remembered the look Cuddy had when he entered the office. She might have been wearing a sign that read “Horribly inadequate at everything.” He subconsciously began rubbing Cuddy’s bare arm. Cuddy loved it when he did this. She didn’t even think he was aware of it and it had a power to soothe her like nothing else.
“So what did the good doctor say?” House asked.
“Beth? She demanded to know why te hadn’t been in to quickly give her mother your genius diagnosis yet,” Cuddy detto smiling.
“Sorry, I had to finish up a letter to Penthouse. I am three for three on getting published and I had to make this fourth one really shine. Can’t break my streak.”
“It’s good to have goals,” Cuddy said, laughing softly.
“So what did the good doctor say to make te feel like the failure te are definitely not?” House detto softly after a moment. Cuddy turned quickly to look at her lover. She was well aware of his skill at observation, but at times it still amazed her.
Cuddy ducked her head. “She asked about Rachel. She was amazed I was able to balance everything.”
House nodded. “You do.”
Cuddy shook her head. “I don’t.”
“Stop it.”
Cuddy detto nothing. House reached over with his other hand and put his fingers on Cuddy’s chin. He lifted her face so that she was looking at him. “Stop it.”
Cuddy’s eyes misted, “Rachel is getting older and I’m spending less quality time. I should be with her more,” she detto in a rush. “The hospital is behind on some accreditations and somebody program all the automatic voice answering systems to French. I’ve got to…” she didn’t get to finish the sentence because House covered her mouth with his in a gentle kiss. He kissed her one più time before pulling back.
“Stop it.”
Cuddy smiled and leaned back into him. She brought her hand up to his face and cupping his cheek gave him another soft kiss, followed da another and another. Cuddy rarely gave in to displays of affection at work. Especially when the blinds weren’t shut and the door locked, but she needed House’s comfort right now, his confidence. She began to push him down on the couch, but House stopped her.
“This modern divano of yours is much too short for proper work lovemaking,” he detto placing a gentle baciare on her chin. He looked over towards her desk. “I think there’s più spazio over there.”
Cuddy followed his gaze and smiled. “You’re insane.”
“We’ve done it before,” House detto softly.
“No, we tried to, but my roommate came home. Remember? We ended up going to your place that night,” Cuddy kissed House and lingered on his lips. “That one night.”
“So haven’t te always wondered….” House detto as he began to rise from the couch, encircling Cuddy in his arms. He kissed her again.
Cuddy laughed again. “You are insane. Besides, I have too many papers on it. I never found the first page of my winter dissertation after that da the way.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against him. She kissed him più ardently.
House easily lifted Cuddy a few inches from the floor and began to make his way to her desk. “House!” she detto against his neck. “We can’t.” She didn’t do anything to stop him however.
They were at the edge of the desk. House let Cuddy slide down his body so she could stand on the floor. He let go of her and was going to sweep off her scrivania, reception when the harsh buzzing of their pagers broke the hot silence. House paused and looked at Cuddy before grabbing his pager from his belt.
“Damn,” House said. Cuddy looked at him, the heat in her eyes dissipating rapidly. “It’s a good thing Dr. Schaeffer decided to stay in the hospital. Her mother’s having a stroke.”
CUT TO COMMERCIAL
XXX
