The gray clouds hovered over Princeton like a blanket. Behind them was the onyx sky, gleaming with speckled bright lights so far away. But tonight, tonight very few were shining. Over by the houses a car had pulled up in a driveway. An average height male with clean short hair, got out of his car and walked fairly quickly to the door. In the light hanging over the arch of the door, you could distinguish who he was. Wilson was knocking on House's door waiting for him to answer. He wanted to check up on him, find out what happened, how he was, and how he was feeling about this. After a minute or so, he answered. He let him in for a couple glasses of scotch and they began talking.
"Why didn't you ask her?"
"That, alone--"
"Why, didn't, you."
"It's not what she wants."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Things would still be the same. I would end up killing people and--"
"How are you so sure, she wasn't just waiting for you to? What if all the other problems, weren't real problems. What if they were--excuses? What if, to prove her point, she came up with all those reasons, to hide the fact, that she thought, that you weren't ready to commit?"
"She knows I'd commit."
"No, she doesn't. She doesn't know that you would. But she does know what you can make mistakes. She knows that ninety-five percent of the time you're right. Why should one single patient set her off? It just doesn't make sense to me."
"You knew she was going to break up with me. You've known since she made the decision. Cause apparently, you've given this a lot of thought..And you know the facts."
"I--She told me. Couple days ago."
"I'm not surprised," he said with a smile, just before taking a shot of his scotch.
---
Cameron walked out the doors of Princeton Plainsbro walking to her car. She opened her phone to check the time, eight, to be exact. She was planning to go home, rest, after she had finished up at the ER. But instead of going home right away, she called Chase telling him she'd be a little late.
"Where you going?"
"I--I've got a friend to see. She's not--well. I'll only be a couple hours."
She was referring to Cuddy. Over the years they had gotten closer so technically, it was her place to step in at this point. So she pulled out of the hospital parking lot, and made her way to her place. When she answered the door, she was a little shocked to see Cameron at first, but she let her in. Cameron took off her jacket, laying it on one of her recliners. Then, she sat on the couch as Cuddy went into the kitchen, took out two glasses and poured some scotch. She came out and joined Cameron on the couch. Just as Wilson and House did.
Cameron began to drink hers and so did Cuddy. But halfway through before swallowing she spat it back into the glass, grabbed a napkin and looked away from Cameron. Cameron finished sipping hers and slowly put it down on the table. She put on a shocked, curious face with an entertained smile then asked,
"What was that?"
Cuddy just looked at her and wiped off her mouth, without saying a word. Cameron realized this look and the smile fell off, along with the shocked face. The deep curiosity remained.
"There's only one reason why you would spit out scotch."
Cuddy tried averting her eyes from her, trying not to meet hers. Cameron, however, strived for them to meet.
"You're pregnant?"
Cuddy got up from the couch and went into the kitchen, dumping her scotch, and laying the glass in the sink as Cameron continued talking. She began projecting her voice from the living room as Cuddy washed her glass. She also got up from the couch.
"How? When? Who? Is it House's? Oh my God. Is that why you broke it off? Lisa--"
"No. I had other reasons."
"Reasons for which are probably lousy."
"Probably isn't definitely. Oh God," She thought, "now I sound like him. He's finally starting to rub off on me."
The faucet turned off and opening and closing cupboards sounded from the kitchen. Cameron fell back on the couch, waiting for her to return.
"Lisa, he loves you. I've never seen anything like this before. He's become tender, he's just--"
"Changed. I know."
She walked out of the kitchen.
"Is it his?"
Cuddy remained silent. She looked everywhere else but in Cameron's direction, as she dried off her hands. Cameron had a shocked face and asked,
"Does he know?"
Cuddy refused to say anymore and Cameron dropped her jaw. She covered her mouth in total shock as Cuddy began walking back to the couch.
"You have to tell him! You can't keep him obscured from the truth."
Cuddy fell back on the couch, heaving a great sigh.
---
"She doesn't want you to change?"
"For the sake of the many lives I would end up killing."
"It was a one time thing! Once, you make a minor slip, she goes ballistic." Wilson took a drink from his scotch.
"That's my girl."
Wilson stopped dead while drinking, and put it down on the table. He could feel the guilt in his stomach. First of all, for not telling him about how he already knew it was going to happen..Second of all, for not telling him about the baby. He tried to avoid thinking about it.
"You should've asked her."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Bringing out a ring like that," he gestured to Wilson's jacket, assuming he had grabbed it from the trash to give it back to him,
"would only make the situation harder."
"How did you know I--?"
"You wouldn't leave it in the trash or anywhere at work for Cuddy to find it. That's just not kosher."
Wilson looked at him for a second, then rolled his eyes and said,
"You still need to bring me to the store. I don't believe you spent a couple "ten thousands" on it."
"I didn't."
"Oh! So called it."
"My grandfather did."
Wilson looked at House for a moment. Curiously.
"It was my grandmother's engagement ring. She had given it to me near the end of my college years at Michigan. She so desperately wanted to see me married as soon as I got out. But, never used it. Never had a chance to. So it's been stowed away in the back of my closet."
"And throwing it in the garbage was just--a metaphor, one of your strange metaphors that I'm supposed to analyze?"
He gave a nod.
"The ring representing Cuddy--No. Representing your relationship--"
He paused for a few seconds.
"You know she was just thinking about you."
"I know. All for my best interest..."
"Show her the ring."
"No--"
"Part of the reason why you guys broke off is because she thought this wasn't going anywhere. Show her you were ready to commit. Tell her--you still are."
House shot back the last gulps of his scotch. He hesitated before grabbing the keys to his bike, grabbing Wilson's jacket, took out and threw the keys at him which he caught while drinking his scotch as House grabbed the cane hanging from the archway and left.
Then Wilson whispered as he finished off the last few drops,
"Go get her House."
---
"He's definitely ready to commit! Lisa--everyone knows. We all are just waiting for you guys to-- get married already! We actually had a bet going. When almost everyone found out you guys were together, we had bets going how long it would take you guys to actually go all the way. I bet seven months. And I knew I was right because one day, I had walked into House's office and I fou--"
At that moment, Rachel started crying.
"I'll be back."
Cameron sighed as Cuddy walked to the bedroom. But as she waited gazing out the window, she began to hear a loud engine. The same familiar revved engine she had heard before. She waited and saw that it was House riding through the streets. He parked his bike under the street light and began walking towards the door. House saw her in the window and he stopped at the door step. He was avoiding any light that appeared around the doorstep, hiding in the shadows, still seen only by her. They began mouthing things inconspicuously to each other.
"What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if she was okay. She looked pretty bad in your office. What's your excuse?"
He didn't respond. Only because Cuddy had walked back into the room. She was too frustrated and stressed to notice what Cameron had been doing, and that House was lurking right on her doorstep. She sat down, facing away from him and facing Cameron as they continued talking. He leaned on the window looking in on both of them. He favored his right hand, making sure he wouldn't put any pressure on it and aggravate the deep cuts beneath his bandage.
"So you broke up with him because he changed..For you? And because you're afraid he's not going to commit to it?"
"I am afraid he's not ready to commit. I'm afraid he's forcing himself to do something he doesn't want. Changing, dramatically, and for the wrong reasons. Look it's just--It's not that--"
"Simple. I know," Cameron gave a quick glance at him as she said,
"except it should be."
"Even if he did ask me to marry him, I know he has plans elsewhere. Married life doesn't equal House. So I still would've said no."
House began walking away. He made his way all the way to the very start of her pathway before Cameron threw her eyes at him, giving him a glare to tell him to come back. He stood motionless at the gate and she quickly said without letting him hear,
"So you're going to let this baby grow up, not knowing his or her own father?"
"They will know him. But not as their father."
"Lisa--"
"He doesn't need a burden like that. House doesn't do ultimate sacrifices. If we were together, maybe."
"You don't know what he's thinking. You don't know his plans. He could be--"
"We don't know for sure."
Cameron sighed, tired of fighting with her, but striving to go on, trying to change her mind. House remained at the gate, staring at them from the shadows. All he could see was them talking, but he couldn't hear what they were exactly saying.
"I want a family. And I love House. But I can't have both."
Cameron just looked at her with sadness in her eyes, exhaled deeply, and leaned forward giving her a hug. She consoled her as she looked at House from the window. He was staring at them with his signature look before giving her a curt nod, turning his back on them and limped back to his bike.
She too, had tears falling. They fell without Cuddy noticing, because she was in a flood of tears.
They released their hug after Cameron had wiped her eyes dry. Then Cameron got up, grabbed her jacket, finished her scotch and then went for the door, Cuddy escorting her out. They gave one last hug, and Cuddy slowly closed the door, not noticing the figure across the street. Cameron waited for her to turn off the light in the living room and made her way to House. Her arms were folded, embracing herself, trying to block the night chill.
"I cleaned your office for you. Your stuff is back in their proper drawers and your desk is back to normal. Picture frame thrown away, along with all the glass. I couldn't get the blood out so--"
"Don't change the subject."
"I wasn't. I was waiting for you to stop me. So I could tell you what the hell is wrong with her."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Thought we established this earlier.."
"I was planning to propose. I don't know about you."
"I know. She's going to say no."
"You were the one who found my ring."
She didn't respond. She just stood there staring at him.
"You were the one who took it out of the drawer."
She still didn't respond. He grinned at her, almost a proud, and slightly entertained grin.
"I knew I never put it out. Wilson told me he had found it on my desk..You wanted someone to find it. So you'd get your two hundred. And by someone I mean, Foreman, Chase, Wilson or even better, Cuddy."
"Cuddy only because I wanted her to know what you were doing."
"I like it."
Then she gave a smirk and said sarcastically,
"But I'm mad now, because you actually had to propose for me to win the money."
"If I proposed would we split?"
"House."
Things had become serious. Even the tone in their voices.
"I can't do anything."
"Tell her."
"She wouldn't believe me."
"Maybe, you never know."
"I know. You never know. Not taking chances with this."
She just threw him a pout, saddened by his retort, before he put his helmet on.
"You need a ride?" He asked as he put on his gloves.
"How do you think I got here?
He revved up the engine and then took off, leaving Cameron alone in the street.
---
He pulled up into his driveway to find that Wilson had left already. Except he left a note on the door. It said,
House-
Need my jacket. Has my wallet. Bring it to work tomorrow. I expect my money and credit cards to be there. Cleaned up your house, found the heroin and morphine. I suggest you don't use them, but I take it that you will omit that. Good luck.
-Wilson
p.s. I stole some cigars.
He took the note off the door and gave a snicker as he walked in the house.
He limped all the way to his bed after turning off all the lights. As he sat down on his bed, he put down a needle. It was the heroin needle Wilson had referred to before. He stared at it under his beside light, wondering whether or not he should. He stared for about five minutes before shutting off the light, slipping into bed to face the other side.
He just stared at the empty space before him, realizing that she was there before. So many times before. And with this thought, he grieved, which had brought him into a hard nights sleep.
---
Before Cameron had gone home, she dropped by Wilson's place. She knocked on the door and called out for him. But he didn't answer. Just as she was about to walk away, he opened the door. His hair a mess while he was dressed in his sweats.
"Oh, I thought you were House."
"What gave me away? My voice? Or when you opened the door?"
"Come in."
"I'm not staying for long. Um, House."
"Yes."
"Didn't propose."
"Wh-what? Why?"
"I don't know. I talked to both of them. One thinks one thing and the other thinks that."
"Misunderstood. Yeah. I got that."
"I just came over--You do know what's next right?"
"I know. We'll talk about it. Lunch. Tomorrow."
And they gave each other nods before Wilson returned to the comfort of his bed and Cameron finally traveled home, attempting for a good nights rest.
"Why didn't you ask her?"
"That, alone--"
"Why, didn't, you."
"It's not what she wants."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Things would still be the same. I would end up killing people and--"
"How are you so sure, she wasn't just waiting for you to? What if all the other problems, weren't real problems. What if they were--excuses? What if, to prove her point, she came up with all those reasons, to hide the fact, that she thought, that you weren't ready to commit?"
"She knows I'd commit."
"No, she doesn't. She doesn't know that you would. But she does know what you can make mistakes. She knows that ninety-five percent of the time you're right. Why should one single patient set her off? It just doesn't make sense to me."
"You knew she was going to break up with me. You've known since she made the decision. Cause apparently, you've given this a lot of thought..And you know the facts."
"I--She told me. Couple days ago."
"I'm not surprised," he said with a smile, just before taking a shot of his scotch.
---
Cameron walked out the doors of Princeton Plainsbro walking to her car. She opened her phone to check the time, eight, to be exact. She was planning to go home, rest, after she had finished up at the ER. But instead of going home right away, she called Chase telling him she'd be a little late.
"Where you going?"
"I--I've got a friend to see. She's not--well. I'll only be a couple hours."
She was referring to Cuddy. Over the years they had gotten closer so technically, it was her place to step in at this point. So she pulled out of the hospital parking lot, and made her way to her place. When she answered the door, she was a little shocked to see Cameron at first, but she let her in. Cameron took off her jacket, laying it on one of her recliners. Then, she sat on the couch as Cuddy went into the kitchen, took out two glasses and poured some scotch. She came out and joined Cameron on the couch. Just as Wilson and House did.
Cameron began to drink hers and so did Cuddy. But halfway through before swallowing she spat it back into the glass, grabbed a napkin and looked away from Cameron. Cameron finished sipping hers and slowly put it down on the table. She put on a shocked, curious face with an entertained smile then asked,
"What was that?"
Cuddy just looked at her and wiped off her mouth, without saying a word. Cameron realized this look and the smile fell off, along with the shocked face. The deep curiosity remained.
"There's only one reason why you would spit out scotch."
Cuddy tried averting her eyes from her, trying not to meet hers. Cameron, however, strived for them to meet.
"You're pregnant?"
Cuddy got up from the couch and went into the kitchen, dumping her scotch, and laying the glass in the sink as Cameron continued talking. She began projecting her voice from the living room as Cuddy washed her glass. She also got up from the couch.
"How? When? Who? Is it House's? Oh my God. Is that why you broke it off? Lisa--"
"No. I had other reasons."
"Reasons for which are probably lousy."
"Probably isn't definitely. Oh God," She thought, "now I sound like him. He's finally starting to rub off on me."
The faucet turned off and opening and closing cupboards sounded from the kitchen. Cameron fell back on the couch, waiting for her to return.
"Lisa, he loves you. I've never seen anything like this before. He's become tender, he's just--"
"Changed. I know."
She walked out of the kitchen.
"Is it his?"
Cuddy remained silent. She looked everywhere else but in Cameron's direction, as she dried off her hands. Cameron had a shocked face and asked,
"Does he know?"
Cuddy refused to say anymore and Cameron dropped her jaw. She covered her mouth in total shock as Cuddy began walking back to the couch.
"You have to tell him! You can't keep him obscured from the truth."
Cuddy fell back on the couch, heaving a great sigh.
---
"She doesn't want you to change?"
"For the sake of the many lives I would end up killing."
"It was a one time thing! Once, you make a minor slip, she goes ballistic." Wilson took a drink from his scotch.
"That's my girl."
Wilson stopped dead while drinking, and put it down on the table. He could feel the guilt in his stomach. First of all, for not telling him about how he already knew it was going to happen..Second of all, for not telling him about the baby. He tried to avoid thinking about it.
"You should've asked her."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Bringing out a ring like that," he gestured to Wilson's jacket, assuming he had grabbed it from the trash to give it back to him,
"would only make the situation harder."
"How did you know I--?"
"You wouldn't leave it in the trash or anywhere at work for Cuddy to find it. That's just not kosher."
Wilson looked at him for a second, then rolled his eyes and said,
"You still need to bring me to the store. I don't believe you spent a couple "ten thousands" on it."
"I didn't."
"Oh! So called it."
"My grandfather did."
Wilson looked at House for a moment. Curiously.
"It was my grandmother's engagement ring. She had given it to me near the end of my college years at Michigan. She so desperately wanted to see me married as soon as I got out. But, never used it. Never had a chance to. So it's been stowed away in the back of my closet."
"And throwing it in the garbage was just--a metaphor, one of your strange metaphors that I'm supposed to analyze?"
He gave a nod.
"The ring representing Cuddy--No. Representing your relationship--"
He paused for a few seconds.
"You know she was just thinking about you."
"I know. All for my best interest..."
"Show her the ring."
"No--"
"Part of the reason why you guys broke off is because she thought this wasn't going anywhere. Show her you were ready to commit. Tell her--you still are."
House shot back the last gulps of his scotch. He hesitated before grabbing the keys to his bike, grabbing Wilson's jacket, took out and threw the keys at him which he caught while drinking his scotch as House grabbed the cane hanging from the archway and left.
Then Wilson whispered as he finished off the last few drops,
"Go get her House."
---
"He's definitely ready to commit! Lisa--everyone knows. We all are just waiting for you guys to-- get married already! We actually had a bet going. When almost everyone found out you guys were together, we had bets going how long it would take you guys to actually go all the way. I bet seven months. And I knew I was right because one day, I had walked into House's office and I fou--"
At that moment, Rachel started crying.
"I'll be back."
Cameron sighed as Cuddy walked to the bedroom. But as she waited gazing out the window, she began to hear a loud engine. The same familiar revved engine she had heard before. She waited and saw that it was House riding through the streets. He parked his bike under the street light and began walking towards the door. House saw her in the window and he stopped at the door step. He was avoiding any light that appeared around the doorstep, hiding in the shadows, still seen only by her. They began mouthing things inconspicuously to each other.
"What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if she was okay. She looked pretty bad in your office. What's your excuse?"
He didn't respond. Only because Cuddy had walked back into the room. She was too frustrated and stressed to notice what Cameron had been doing, and that House was lurking right on her doorstep. She sat down, facing away from him and facing Cameron as they continued talking. He leaned on the window looking in on both of them. He favored his right hand, making sure he wouldn't put any pressure on it and aggravate the deep cuts beneath his bandage.
"So you broke up with him because he changed..For you? And because you're afraid he's not going to commit to it?"
"I am afraid he's not ready to commit. I'm afraid he's forcing himself to do something he doesn't want. Changing, dramatically, and for the wrong reasons. Look it's just--It's not that--"
"Simple. I know," Cameron gave a quick glance at him as she said,
"except it should be."
"Even if he did ask me to marry him, I know he has plans elsewhere. Married life doesn't equal House. So I still would've said no."
House began walking away. He made his way all the way to the very start of her pathway before Cameron threw her eyes at him, giving him a glare to tell him to come back. He stood motionless at the gate and she quickly said without letting him hear,
"So you're going to let this baby grow up, not knowing his or her own father?"
"They will know him. But not as their father."
"Lisa--"
"He doesn't need a burden like that. House doesn't do ultimate sacrifices. If we were together, maybe."
"You don't know what he's thinking. You don't know his plans. He could be--"
"We don't know for sure."
Cameron sighed, tired of fighting with her, but striving to go on, trying to change her mind. House remained at the gate, staring at them from the shadows. All he could see was them talking, but he couldn't hear what they were exactly saying.
"I want a family. And I love House. But I can't have both."
Cameron just looked at her with sadness in her eyes, exhaled deeply, and leaned forward giving her a hug. She consoled her as she looked at House from the window. He was staring at them with his signature look before giving her a curt nod, turning his back on them and limped back to his bike.
She too, had tears falling. They fell without Cuddy noticing, because she was in a flood of tears.
They released their hug after Cameron had wiped her eyes dry. Then Cameron got up, grabbed her jacket, finished her scotch and then went for the door, Cuddy escorting her out. They gave one last hug, and Cuddy slowly closed the door, not noticing the figure across the street. Cameron waited for her to turn off the light in the living room and made her way to House. Her arms were folded, embracing herself, trying to block the night chill.
"I cleaned your office for you. Your stuff is back in their proper drawers and your desk is back to normal. Picture frame thrown away, along with all the glass. I couldn't get the blood out so--"
"Don't change the subject."
"I wasn't. I was waiting for you to stop me. So I could tell you what the hell is wrong with her."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Thought we established this earlier.."
"I was planning to propose. I don't know about you."
"I know. She's going to say no."
"You were the one who found my ring."
She didn't respond. She just stood there staring at him.
"You were the one who took it out of the drawer."
She still didn't respond. He grinned at her, almost a proud, and slightly entertained grin.
"I knew I never put it out. Wilson told me he had found it on my desk..You wanted someone to find it. So you'd get your two hundred. And by someone I mean, Foreman, Chase, Wilson or even better, Cuddy."
"Cuddy only because I wanted her to know what you were doing."
"I like it."
Then she gave a smirk and said sarcastically,
"But I'm mad now, because you actually had to propose for me to win the money."
"If I proposed would we split?"
"House."
Things had become serious. Even the tone in their voices.
"I can't do anything."
"Tell her."
"She wouldn't believe me."
"Maybe, you never know."
"I know. You never know. Not taking chances with this."
She just threw him a pout, saddened by his retort, before he put his helmet on.
"You need a ride?" He asked as he put on his gloves.
"How do you think I got here?
He revved up the engine and then took off, leaving Cameron alone in the street.
---
He pulled up into his driveway to find that Wilson had left already. Except he left a note on the door. It said,
House-
Need my jacket. Has my wallet. Bring it to work tomorrow. I expect my money and credit cards to be there. Cleaned up your house, found the heroin and morphine. I suggest you don't use them, but I take it that you will omit that. Good luck.
-Wilson
p.s. I stole some cigars.
He took the note off the door and gave a snicker as he walked in the house.
He limped all the way to his bed after turning off all the lights. As he sat down on his bed, he put down a needle. It was the heroin needle Wilson had referred to before. He stared at it under his beside light, wondering whether or not he should. He stared for about five minutes before shutting off the light, slipping into bed to face the other side.
He just stared at the empty space before him, realizing that she was there before. So many times before. And with this thought, he grieved, which had brought him into a hard nights sleep.
---
Before Cameron had gone home, she dropped by Wilson's place. She knocked on the door and called out for him. But he didn't answer. Just as she was about to walk away, he opened the door. His hair a mess while he was dressed in his sweats.
"Oh, I thought you were House."
"What gave me away? My voice? Or when you opened the door?"
"Come in."
"I'm not staying for long. Um, House."
"Yes."
"Didn't propose."
"Wh-what? Why?"
"I don't know. I talked to both of them. One thinks one thing and the other thinks that."
"Misunderstood. Yeah. I got that."
"I just came over--You do know what's next right?"
"I know. We'll talk about it. Lunch. Tomorrow."
And they gave each other nods before Wilson returned to the comfort of his bed and Cameron finally traveled home, attempting for a good nights rest.
